Swab holder



Patented Sept. 2, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SWAB HOLDER Adolph M. Rothbardt, Chicago, 111. Application February 24, 1950, Serial Noll 15,937

This invention relates to a swab holder.

An object of this invention is to provide a holder for swabs of the type used by medics which will hold unused swabs in sanitary condition in addition to a supply of sanitary cotton.

Another object of this invention is to provide a swab holder including an outer receptacle, a cylindrical longitudinally channeled swab holder in the receptacle, the channels of the holder confronting the inner surface of the receptacle, and an inner cap rotatably fitting over the upper end of the receptacle. The inner cap is formed with an annular upwardly oiiset channel adapted to loosely engage over the projecting ends of the swab sticks and the inner cap is formed with a cutout for exposing the end of one stick so that a stick can be readily removed from the holder. The inner cap includes a wall formed with a central opening so that the cotton within the interior of the holder may be removed by pulling the cotton through the central hole in the top wall of the can.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a swab holder constructed according to an embodiment of this invention showing the holder with the outer cap removed.

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken on the line 2-4 of Figure 1 with the outer cap in position.

Figure 3 is a, sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of the upper portion of the holder.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral i6 designates generally a receptacle which is formed with a cylindrical side wall H and a bottom wall ii. A swab stick holder generally designated as it is disposed within the receptacle ill and is formed of a cylindrical wall 55 which is provided in the outer surface thereof with longitudinally extending channels It. The channels it confront the inner side of the cylindrical wall H and provide spaces or chambers it within which swab sticks iii are adapted to loosely extend.

In forming the holder I4 this holder is formed out of a flat sheet of material provided with corrugated or grooved channels in one side thereof, and this sheet is bent in circular form and is then inserted into the receptacle H3. The swabs or swab sticks 18 are slightly longer than the lengths of the side wall H and the holder i l so that the upper ends of the sticks will project above the receptacle Iii. An inner cap generally designated as H) rotatably engages over the up- 2 Claims. (01. 2ll6-1) per edges of the receptacle l0 and includes a top wall 20, the central portion having an opening 22. The top wall 20 is formed with a cylindrical flange 23 loosely engaging over the outer side of the side wall I I, and an inverted U-shaped channel member 24 projects upwardly from the top wall 20 and overlies the swab stick chambers ll.

The channel member 24 is formed with a cutout 25, as shown in Figure 4, so that the upper ends of the swab sticks I8 will be selectively exposed as the cap I8 is rotated on the receptacle Hi. The interior of the holder M is adapted to have cotton 26 disposed therein which may be drawn through the opening 22 so as to pick up a small quantity of cotton. If desired, the cotton 26 may be partially pulled through the opening 22 so that it may be manually grasped and then wrapped about the swab stick. An outer cap 2'! is adapted to engage over the inner cap I?! and includes a top wall 28 having a cylindrical flange 29 extending downwardly and engaging over the channel member 24.

In the use and operation of this holder the swab sticks 18 are inserted into the chambers I! by first removing the inner cap I9. The inner cap I 9 will remain in operative position over the upper end of the holder l0 and over the projecting upper ends of the sticks [8. When it is desired to use a swab, the upper end of a stick l8 which is exposed in the cutout 25 is drawn upwardly through the cutout 25. If desired, the cotton may be initially pulled partly through the opening 22 and a quantity of this cotton severed from the body of the cotton and then twisted about the swab stick l8. After they are once used, the sticks can be replaced in channels and later pulled out to make new swabs, the used cotton being first removed from the sticks.

What I claim is:

l. A swab holder comprising a cylindrical receptacle, a longitudinally grooved cylindrical member within said receptacle, the grooves of said member confronting the inner side of said receptacle and open at the top, and a cap rotatably fitting over the upper end of said receptacle, said cap being formed with an inverted U- shaped channel overlying the upper ends of said grooves, said cap having a cutout intersecting the top and side wall of said cap and overlying said channel thereby selectively to expose and afford a finger grip for the upper end of a swab stick upon rotation of said cap whereby a swab stick may be removed from a longitudinal channel by vertical movement through said opening without removing said cap, a shoulder extending peripherally about said cap and a second closure cap adapted to set on said shoulder.

2. A swab holder comprising a cylindrical receptacle, a longitudinally grooved cylindrical member within said receptacle, the grooves of said member being open at the top and confronting the inner side of said receptacle, and a cap rotatably fitting over the upper end of said receptacle, said cap being formed with an inverted U-shaped channel overlying the upper ends of said grooves, said cap having a cutout intersecting the top and side wall thereof and overlying said channel thereby selectively to expose and afiord a finger grip for the upper end of a swab stick upon rotation of said cap whereby a swab stickvmay be removed from a longitudinal channel by vertical movement through said opening without removing said cap, said cap having a central opening whereby cotton in the interior of said member may be removed, a shoulder extending peripherally about said cap and a second closure cap adapted to set on said shoulder.

ADOLPH M. ROTHBARDT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 960,236 Simmons May 31, 1910 1,049,148 Rhoades Dec. 31, 1912 1,262,542 Moeller Apr. 9, 1918 2,114,872 Conner Apr. 19, 1938 2,317,102 McKaig, Jr. Apr. 20, 1943 2,409,465 Armbruster et a1. Oct. 15, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 603,021 Great Britain June 8, 1948 

